Off-trade is focus for new alcohol strategy

Review promised into links between alcohol price and harm

Trade leaders have welcomed the Government's new alcohol strategy as recognition that pubs and clubs have answered the call to act more responsibly.

As the MA revealed earlier this year, the long-awaited National Alcohol Strategy puts more emphasis on the off-trade to clean up its act.

However, it does emphasise the need for the trade to redouble attempts to reduce underage drinking. Home Office minister Vernon Coaker promised more national test purchase operations in the future. And trade experts said the devil could be in the detail - many details of the proposals will not be revealed until the consultation process.

A key recommendation in the strategy is for an independent national review of the relationship between alcohol price, promotion and harm. This is aimed primarily at the off-trade. It flags up concerns about selling alcohol below cost price, which supermarkets have admitted doing, and explains that voluntary codes on drinks promotions already exist in the on-trade.

When asked about the on-trade, Coaker said: "What we've seen over the last couple of years is there's been a recognition from the drinks industry that they needed to do more, and they have done more, in respect of price and promotions."

MP John Grogan, chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group, said: "This is a major step forward for the campaign to get the supermarkets to end irresponsible drinks promotions. It is the first sign that Government ministers are now taking this issue seriously."

"I think they [the off-trade] now realise that they have a fight on their hands. I recently met Vernon Coaker to discuss this issue and my impression that he was seriously thinking about it has been confirmed by today's announcement."

British Beer & Pub Associa-tion communications director Mark Hastings welcomed the shift in focus to reflect the fact that over half of all alcohol is now drunk at home.

He said the on-trade had nothing to worry about in terms of a review on promotions. "We have taken steps to tackle this issue head on and MPs have recognised that. It highlights the failure of the supermarkets to step-up to the mark and address the issue of loss-leading on alcohol to drive traffic."

Bar Entertainment & Dance Association executive director Paul Smith said: "We now need proper consultation and I hope that process will look at some of the ludicrous discounting in the off-trade, as by and large it has been eradicated in the on-trade.

"We are happy the partnership approach has been included and Best Bar None mentioned. If we are talking about changing the drinking culture, that can only be delivered through a proper partnership approach."

The Strategy also calls for reviews of voluntary agreements on responsible marketing and sales of alcohol that currently exist, including Portman Group and British Beer & Pub Association codes.

The document calls for

"universal adoption of Chal-lenge 21 or a similar scheme" and more monitoring and training by alcohol retailers to avoid underage sales. And it says there will be a public consultation - to be launched in November 2008 - on the need for laws to govern the labelling of alcoholic drinks.

BII chief executive John McNamara said: "We welcome anything that reduces underage sales and reduces harm caused by alcohol."

McNamara stressed that the proposal to form local alcohol strategies - where local police, councils and others must have a plan in place to tackle alcohol-related problems by April 2008 - must involve the trade. "We must be seen as an equal partner. We are not part of the problem, but part of the solution."

The Strategy promises action against nuisance drinkers, with penalties and extra support to wean them off heavy drinking. National campaigns are also promised to promote a culture of sensible drinking. This includes raising awareness of alcohol units and challenging public tolerance of drunkenness.

Government rejects blanket glassware bans

The Government has spoken out against blanket glass bans in its new National Alcohol Strategy.

This puts pressure on police forces that are looking for blanket glass bans to abandon the policy.

The document says: "The Government believes that a risk-based, rather than blanket, approach to requiring licensed premises to use safer alternatives to glass is the best way to tackle the problem of glass-related injuries. A pub or bar is not necessarily at high risk of a glassing attack simply because it is in a town centre and open late, but neither is a premises at low risk just because it is in the countryside and closes at 11pm.

"As well as location and operating hours, factors such as the type of venue, its customer make-up and the professionalism of its management

can all have a bearing on whether a premises presents a risk of disorder

and glass-related injury."

The strategy says an expert group comprising the alcohol industry, police, doctors and academics will be set up to discuss the best strategy for identifying venues which should go glass free. The best practice document the group is set to produce should be ready between October and December 2008.

British Beer & Pub Association communications director Mark Hastings said: "It's a very strong message that a blanket approach is inappropriate."

l The Morning Advertiser's anti-glass ban Early Day Motion has now been signed by 34 MPs.

The Proposals

l Independent review of the relationship between alcohol price, promotion and harm, to be published April 2008.

l A review of the impact of voluntary social responsibility agreements, due autumn 2007.

l Consultation on the need for legislation for labelling of alcoholic drinks, to be launched November 2008.

l Local strategies to combat alcohol-related disorder, due April 2008.

l National campaigns to challenge public tolerance of drunkenness and increase knowledge of alcohol units, due April 2008. More alcohol information for heavy drinkers and young people, and a campaign urging pregnant women not to drink, is also promised.

l Development of a model for collecting data on stings to ensure they are well-targeted. Due early 2008.